New Moon Ritual: How to Harness the Energies of the New Moon to Support Your Overall Wellbeing
Each lunar cycle gives us the opportunity to look inwards towards ourselves and the use the energy of the cosmos to explore where we are at in the journey towards our true, authentic selves.
What are the Moon Cycles? And What Do They Represent?
The moon holds different energies at different times of the month and consists of a 28-day cycle. During this the moon cycles through new moon, to waxing moon (growing moon) to full moon, and then waning moon (going away moon). When the moon is waxing it is growing and as it grows it brings in an energy of abundance. Meaning that the New Moon is the ideal “start point” to set new intentions of what you want to grow in your life.
When the moon is waning, it is shrinking, which makes it an ideal time to let go of what no longer serving you. Cleansing yourself physically, such as decluttering your space, and emotionally, such as letting go of negative thought patterns. The full moon and new moon are seen as transformational moments of beginning and endings. How beautiful of nature to give us a cycle to which we can touch base, work towards something, fulfill it, and let it go every 28 days. The nature of the moon is to renew and regenerate, make whole, and release. We can put aside what happened last moon cycle, and focus on the days ahead, with the supportive growing glow of Selene behind us.
What is the New Moon?
The New Moon is a more grounded time, think of it as the dust and action that you have been working towards beginning to settle. It is a time for inner reflection and turning inwards. The New Moon has also been referred to as the Dark Moon, as the moon essentially vanishes from the sky, but we know that it is still ever present. This occurs because the moon is directly between the earth and the sun. This alignment of Sun, Moon and Earth leaves the side of the Moon we gaze at in complete darkness.
How Does Working With The Moon Cycles Benefit My Overall Wellness?
The New Moon marks the new beginning of the lunar cycle. The energies usually associated with this phase is hope, clarity and reflection. Each new moon provides the space for you to tune into how you’re feeling and whatever you may be going through.
The New Moon is the journey inwards, a time of really getting to know your goals, sowing seeds and setting intentions for the next cycle. We think about how our present self is moving through our personal situations, physical and mental spaces as well. We set these intentions without expectation of results, or clear destinations in mind. We practice mindfulness in bringing the thoughts into existence and letting it be. The New Moon is also a time to be creative and can bring inspiration. It inspires us to be more original, inventive and creative in our activities, feelings, and thoughts. It is a time to refresh old ideas and projects, create new ones, and to seek solutions to life’s challenges.
Tuning into these natural cycles monthly gives us a great foundation for a mindfulness practice that is flexible, cohesive, and relevant to what is currently going on in our life. Through taking the time to reflect on our lives, and check in where we are at, we can develop increased attunement, body awarness, and self awareness. Through regular practices, we can learn to examine whats going on in our lives from a place of inner understanding and compassion, while setting embodied intentions to confront and work through the issue. This benefits us by learning to embody our feelings, and thoughts, sit with it, contemplate it, and then make active moves towards its.
How to Work With the Energies of the New Moon
1. Rest and Recharge
The New Moon is a time to practice rest and recuperation. With the dark moon bringing in the element of silences, and stillness, we can adopt the same mindful stillness in our own lives. Meditate, take a nap, or just surrender to stillness. Use this moment to find ease in your daily life.
2. Turn Inwards
Ask yourself “What am I ready to Invite In?”
This is time to do some deeper exploration. This can be in the form of a guided meditation, or journaling. Ask yourself questions, and get to the roots of what you’re doing, why it is you’re doing it, what you want, and why you want. Developing an inner dialogue allows you to better tap into your emotional feeling states. This leads to improvement in overall wellness and honoring of your experience with deeper understanding.
3. Setting Intentions
Using your developed inner dialogue and taping into your core wants and desires during this time, set intentions for the next moon cycle. Ask yourself what is getting in the way, and work to clear that from your life. Setting intentions is also a space to let go of what no longer serves you.
4. Visualize
Visualize what this affirmation feels, smells, tastes, and expresses itself like. Embody these feelings as you repeat your intention yourself.
